Grandparenting Is Parenting Retirement

When you have a large family, and the kids are spread out in age the way mine are, you have the unique opportunity to experience parenting and grandparenting at the same time. My youngest three children are 11, 9, 6. My grandchildren are 8, 6, 1.

See?

Not only is my oldest grandaughter older than my youngest daughter but my daughter and I were pregnant at the same time with our six year olds. There is three months difference between them. It is fun in one way because my younger kids and grandkids play together well. On the other hand I really don’t feel like a real grandparent yet. My poor grandkids don’t get spoiled in the way grandkids should get spoiled.

There are some things I really like about being a grandparent. One, as an adopted child, it is cool to see relatives that look like me that aren’t my kids. The other thing that is fun is watching my daughter be a mom to her children. I can see where I was strong and where I was weak by how she handles certain things …and I can adjust my own parenting. So far, I think I must have been a pretty good parent because she is a great mom!

Grandparenting allows me to love my grandchildren without feeling responsible for how they behave. I like that. I like that if the baby is crying I can hand her to her mom and go do something else. Same with diapers.

And I like that my grandkids think I am cool. So, while you are stressing over that baby that won’t sleep through the night or the teenager with the smart mouth? Remember, grandkids are coming. It’s all worth it.

I promise.

image: marye audet